The
Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Timi
Frank, says a festering crisis, brewing in the ruling party has the potential
of destroying it.

Frank
said this at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, where he claimed that there
were internal disputes in the APC despite the attempts of its leaders to
project an image of cohesion.

He
explained that he had warned of a crisis in the Bayelsa State chapter of the
APC before and after the governorship election in the state, adding that his
warning was not taken seriously.

He
said, “I spoke about my state in Bayelsa, people ignored me. I’m speaking
again; it would happen soon at the national level that these things we are
hiding have started already.

“If
anybody should tell you there’s no division even at the national level, they’re
telling lies. I can tell you there are issues; there are very critical issues.

“The
issue of the Senate President is still lingering; nobody is saying anything at
the national level, but I tell you, any Nigerian that knows will tell you very
clearly that with the body language of our party as of today, if we are not
careful, we are going to lose our popularity.

“It
will be a very big disgrace that we have hands that are not competent at the
centre to harmonise the aggrieved persons and make us to move forward.

“So,
there is crisis in the party. We have too many divisions right now within the
party. So, I won’t be scared to speak; that is my personal opinion and
I’ve spoken again and I will continue to speak out.”

But
the National Secretary of the party, Mai Mala Buni, in a statement late on
Thursday dismissed Frank’s assertions, stated that the allegations were “bogus”
and should be disregarded.

Buni
added, “The bogus and misleading allegations are unnecessary distractions to
the party’s resolve to fully support the President Muhammadu Buhari
administration to deliver on the motley promises made by our great party to the
electorate.

“The
APC national leadership remains united and solidly committed to the task of
bringing cohesion to the party at all levels.

“Recently,
the APC held its National Caucus and National Executive Committee meetings
where positive and far-reaching decisions were collectively taken by the
party’s leadership to drive the party forward.”

The
statement further read, “The party will not deny anybody or interest the right
to seek justice where he feels this has been denied him. However, we sincerely
appeal that we all play by the rules in our engagements and be guided in our
utterances.

“The
public is advised not to misinterpret or confuse Mr. Timi Frank’s personal
opinion to be the official position of the party or the true reflection of what
is happening inside the party.

“For
the umpteenth time, only the APC National Chairman and the National Secretary
are authorised to officially speak for the party.”